calling voyager: interface design for nasa’s deep space network

Calling VoyagerUser Experience Design for NASA’s Deep Space Network

© 2017 California Institute of Technology. Government sponsorship acknowledged. @shodoshan

Once I thought I knew a lot. Then I was sure I knew a little. Now, I know that I know nothing.

-Private Dowding

Setting the Scene

What is the DSN?

WHO is the DSN?

Change is inevitable

Designing for change: What didn’t work

Designing for change: What worked

What we’re planning

Setting the Scene

What is the DSN?

WHO is the DSN?

Change is inevitable

Designing for change: What didn’t work

Designing for change: What worked

What we’re planning

An Intriguing Design Challenge

Old and new technologies combined

60 years of history

Designs need to last 20 years

40 years of human habit

https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/juno/images/index.html https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/apollo/apollo11.html https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/cassini/images/index.html

Getting On With It

What is the DSN?

WHO is the DSN?

Change is inevitable

Designing for change: What didn’t work

Designing for change: What worked

What we’re planning

Operator Persona

Mostly male

Mostly older

Highly technical – but not IT people

Highly educated – 40 years ago

Situation Awareness

The Good Old Days

Three Cultures

*Dramatic Music*

What is the DSN?

WHO is the DSN?

Change is inevitable

Designing for change: What didn’t work

Designing for change: What worked

What we’re planning

Photo credit: http://www.michaelmedved.com/column/dems-gloom-may-seal-their-doom/ Photo credit: https://hoopsonvs.blogspot.com/2015/08/the-end-is-nigh.html

Photo credit: https://www.videoblocks.com/video/earth-from-space-showing-sunrise-over-the-americas-elements-of-this-render-furnished-by-nasa-wjva9qd

Three Links Per Operator

+ +=HARD

Three Links Per Operator

+ +=MUCH HARDER

Three Links Per Operator

+ += the wild, wild west

Charge Boldly Forward

What is the DSN?

WHO is the DSN?

Change is inevitable

Designing for change: What didn’t work

Designing for change: What worked

What we’re planning

Photo credit: https://www.askideas.com/baby-girl-making-angry-face-funny-image/

How to Incite Revolution

Big changes with no user research

Drastic changes without good reason

Changes with good reason that are too drastic.

“User Acceptance Testing”

Embrace the “slow blink”

What is the DSN?

WHO is the DSN?

Change is inevitable

Designing for change: What didn’t work

Designing for change: What worked

What we’re planning

Evolution, Not Revolution

Involve early, involve often

Build trust

Iterations

Slow and steady wins the race

… plus these techniques:

#ProTip 1: Observations

Watch them do what they do, where they do it.

Observe normal and non-normal situations

Watch, don’t get involved

Take notes; ask questions later

#ProTip 2: Experiential Research

Do. The. Thing.

#ProTip 3: Paper Prototypes

They’re cheap

They’re quick

They’ll get you 80% of the way there

#ProTip 4: Participatory Design

Directional, not prescriptive

Great for hierarchy of info

Great for seeing how they think

#ProTip 5: Paper Dolls

#ProTip 6: “What changed” Tests

#ProTip 7: Cultivate Ambassadors

Make friends with your users

Not just the happy ones

Close the loop when they give you feedback

#ProTip 8: Banana Bread

I’m just sayin’

The Future of Deep Space Ops

What is the DSN?

WHO is the DSN?

Change is inevitable

Designing for change: What didn’t work

Designing for change: What worked

What we’re planning

How Far Can We Evolve?

Modern technologies – but not too modern

Automation

PR and Goodwill

Training

Photo credit: https://mars.nasa.gov/news/a-mixed-reality-trip-to-mars/ Photo credit: http://bit.ly/2ENkJDy

Your Turn

Questions? Thank you!

@shodoshan Krys.Blackwood@jpl.nasa.gov

Want More? DSN: deepspace.jpl.nasa.gov

Human Interfaces Group: hi.jpl.nasa.gov